Improvement in trunk-fasteners



ANTONY V. ROMADKA, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNK-FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,028, dated May 11, 1875; application tiled I April 10, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTONY V. ROMADKA, of the city of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Looks or Catches for Trunks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and correct description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the improved fastener, shown as applied to a trunk; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the'inside of the same, showing its construction and method of operation.

My invention has for its object certain improvements upon the fastener patented to me December 23, 187 3. In that device the springcatch is drawn back by a lever projecting through the side of the case, and it is held back by catching this lever in a notch in the case. This construction leaves an opening in the side of the case, through which foreign substances can be inserted, and the projecting lever is liable to be operated accidentally.

My present improvement consists in constructing and arranging the spring-catch so that it will form a part of the case, and leave no opening when closed.

In the drawings, A is a plate, with holes therein for attaching it to the top of the trunk, and also with a projection, on, to complete the form of the lock when the cover is down, and with a tongue or hasp, I), having its lower end wedge-shaped, with a hook, 0,:recessed on its inner side, all cast in one piece, as shown in both figures. B is the case, with lugs d for attaching it. A projecting rim, g, forms its sides, except so much of the same as is taken up by a spring-catch, G. Its upper side is provided with an opening, f, for the passage of the hasp, and its inner side with a couple of pins or studs, h and i. The case, thus con- The catch structed, is also cast in one piece.

0 is constructed so as to be placed into, and form a partof, the side of the case, as shown in both figures. Its upper end has a hook, D, curved on its upper, and recessed on its inner, side, so as to be forced back by the hasp, and then to enter its recess and engage with its hook. This catch is pivoted between its ends to the pin h, and has its lower end j so curved that a spring, E, attached to the pin 71, will so bear upon it as to throw the catch forward or hold it open when thrown back a certain distance. This catch is also cast in one piece with a lip, e, for operating it, as shown in Fig. 1. As this catch opens on the side, it is not liable to be injured by a blow or an accidental am.

It is obvious that these fastenings may be rights or lefts, and that the catch may be in either side, and its hook, as well as that of the hasp, may be made to correspond.

The operation is simple. In closin g the trunk, the hooks of the hasp and catch engage automatically. They are released by turning the catch back by means of the lip e, and the catch is held back by the spring E, automatically, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- Ina trunk-fastener, the catch 0, provided with lip e, pivoted in the sideof the case B, and, when looked, forming a part of it, in combination with the spring E and hasp or catch 1), all constructed and arranged to operate as described.

The above specification of my said invention signed and witnessed, at Milwaukee, this 5th day of April, A. D. 1875.

A. V. ROMADKA. Witnesses:

THos. JEFFERSON PERELES, Nn'rn. PERELES. 

